Galter DataLab: Expanded Informatics Training Through a Health Sciences Library

Description

This poster, describing the Galter DataLab's infrastructure projects and services, was presented at the AMIA Informatics Educators Forum June 18-20, 2019 in St. Louis, MO.

Abstract

The interdisciplinary nature of todays scientific research programs demands an equivalent approach to training. This is particularly relevant in areas such as informatics education, where biomedical and technical topics tend to compete for space in crowded curricula. For many students with non-technical backgrounds, graduate programs do not include sufficient technical training (basic computer literacy, programming languages, data management and analysis, data workflow management, etc.) to give them the necessary tools for success with cutting-edge research. Additionally, curricula are often slow to change and do not always support training for skills demanded by current job markets. There is a need for supplementary training methods that help those with domain knowledge acquire technical expertise. Using a variety of practices such as topical workshops and online, self-paced training platforms, demand for technical training in R, Python, SQL, and other popular tools can be met. With a mission to serve the Feinberg Medical School, the Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center, in partnership with university core facilities and centers, is the ideal nexus for training and consultation in best practices related to data management and analysis as well as the development of infrastructure that will serve to connect researchers, their output, and their expertise with others in the research community. Building on the librarys extensive education catalog, we have recently established the Galter DataLab to support these objectives for the Feinberg School of Medicine.

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